Forestry commission asks Beaufort County school operations committee for support letter on 2,800-acre Buckfield purchase

James Douglas, state lands project manager for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, asked the Beaufort County School District operations committee on March 10 for a letter of support for the commission's planned acquisition of the Buckfield tract near Yemassee.

"We have about five state forests across the state currently at 103,000 acres, and we're looking at adding more land to our system," Douglas said, explaining the Buckfield project spans Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties and totals roughly 2,821 to 2,828 acres. He told the committee the commission manages properties for timber production, recreation and conservation and that the agency returns 25% of gross revenue from those properties to counties for school use, a practice he described as "part of state statute." James Douglas asked the board for a letter of support or a statement of no objection by March 23 to help the commission's state approval process; he said the Open Space Institute already purchased the Beaufort County portion and that the Forestry Commission will acquire the larger tract from them.

Committee members asked how the district would benefit and whether the district would take on any liabilities. Douglas said the district would not assume liabilities and that the commission would welcome educational uses, offering that the district would receive 25% of any gross revenue the commission later generates from timber sales, recreational permits or leases on the property. A committee member asked whether that revenue is tied to acquisition cost; Douglas said it is not and that revenue is based on whatever the commission generates on the property.

After discussion, a committee member moved that the operations committee recommend the superintendent draft a letter of support (or a statement of no objection) to the South Carolina Forestry Commission for the Buckfield land acquisition; another member seconded. The committee voted in favor by voice vote and forwarded the recommendation to the full board for consideration. The chair said staff would attempt to provide the motion to the full board in time for the commission's March 23 state approval meeting but cautioned that the district's legal and administrative timelines could affect timing.

Why it matters: The purchase would place a large tract into long-term state management with a stated revenue-sharing mechanism intended to support county school districts. The committee's recommendation will go to the full board, which will decide whether to direct the superintendent to submit a formal support letter.

What comes next: The operations committee forwarded the recommendation to the full board; the district indicated it will try to have the committee motion available for the March 23 state approval meeting but did not guarantee the timeline.